Firework sales unaffected by economy
Nationwide retailer reports record fireworks sales.
Published July 7, 2009
Independence Day celebrations have long included fireworks, and though the economic recession doesn't appear to be threatening this tradition, many people and some cities are scaling back their celebrations.
KMIZ General Manager Randy Wright said the state of the economy made it harder to find sponsors for the station's annual Fire in the Sky event. The celebration, which was held at Memorial Stadium, is a music and fireworks show with free admission.
The recession also affected family's holiday plans.
Holly McGee, who attended Fire in the Sky and is the owner of a small private inspection business in Columbia, said the economy considerably changed her Fourth of July plans.
"We're staying closer to home," McGee said. "We're not buying fireworks this year. I'm used to buying $500 or $600 worth of fireworks. This year -- zero."
Wright said people's economic troubles made it more important that the event be free to the public.
The economy has had less of an impact on firework retailers.
Fireworks Supermarket President Mike Ingram said the company, which was founded in Springfield and is one of the country's largest firework sellers, saw its retail sales for this year remain unchanged from 2008. He said the recession did hurt sales in some areas but this was offset by increases in states such as Missouri.
In the company's wholesale department, Ingram said it was a record-setting year, with sales surpassing the previous record year of 2008.
Kayla Radmer, manager of a Bob's Fireworks tent just outside of Columbia, said the holiday's timing meant more people could celebrate the occasion.
"I think because it is on a Friday and Saturday people get off of work and they can still go and do stuff without asking off," she said.
Radmer said if the holiday had been during a weekday, people would have been less likely to ask off time from work in order to celebrate because they would not have been willing to give up a day's wages.
Ryan Adams, manager of a Spirit of '76 fireworks tent, said he had seen pretty stable business this year and he said he thought sales had been encouraged by fewer people going out of town to visit far away family members.
"Instead of spending say 800 bucks to go out of town and travel, I think people are deciding to spend only a couple hundred on some fireworks and have family and friends over for a cookout," Adams said.
Ingram said the Fourth of July offers people a chance to forget some of their troubles.
"People are sick and tired of the bad news," Ingram said. "Every time you turn on a television or pick up a newspaper you see bad news. I think people like to get together with family and friends and I think they are going to do that regardless of whether or not there is a recession."
--Reporter Jared Hogan contributed to this story.
